Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT

The Potenza RE960AS Pole Position gives premium sports car owners a solid all-season tire and a performance tire wrapped up in a racy looking package! Traction is the key, and exclusive UNI-T AQII technology delivers in both wet and dry-even as the tire wears. Silica and a leading edge sipe add to the wet/dry adaptability. If you want undaunted performance when the weather switches gears, go with the Potenza RE960AS Pole Position.

Model: Potenza RE960AS Pole Position RFT
Brand: Bridgestone
Vehicle Type: Passenger
Tire Type: Performance
Segment: Performance All-Season

Warranties:
- Full Warranty (2.27 MB)
All warranties are limited to original purchaser on originally installed vehicle. See each warranty at your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care Store for details and restrictions.

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Features & Benefits

Feature: Directional Tread Pattern
Benefit: Maximizes both wet and dry performance, as well as other tire characteristics. By specifying that the tread pattern is to be mounted on the vehicle in a single direction only, the many design compromises found in conventional tires which can be mounted in two directions are eliminated. This provides the ability to include a wider variety of specific performance characteristics such as high resistance to hydroplaning in each tire.
Feature: Spiral Wrap
Benefit: Encircles the whole tire with a continuous nylon wrap , helping the tire hold its original shape to improve high speed capability.
Feature: 3G Run-Flat
Benefit: Third Generation Run-Flat Tires for use on vehicles that came with RFT as Original Equipment.
Feature: CO-CS (Computer Optimized Component System)
Benefit: Maximizes tire performance by optimizing the appropriate combination of tread design, casing shape, materials, and construction.
Feature: O-Bead
Benefit: Improves uniformity and ride comfort through use of a single continuous strand of cable in the bead construction
Feature: Steel belt construction
Benefit: Adds durability and resists punctures
Feature: Dual-Layer Tread
Benefit: Minimizes the effect of wear on wet tire performance by exposing high grip rubber as the tire wears.
Feature: L.L. Carbon (Long Link)
Benefit: Helps improve tread wear and resist cracking, chipping and tearing through the use of a special long length carbon structure
Feature: NanoPro-Tech Rubber Compound
Benefit: Help improve snow, ice, wet and dry performance by making the tire more flexible to changes in conditions. Controls interaction between polymer, filler materials such (as carbon black and silica) and other rubber chemicals. As such, carbon gets dispersed homogeneously which reduces energy loss caused by its friction.
Feature: All-Season Tread Design
Benefit: Enhances year-round performance with open-slotted shoulders.
Feature: Cooling Fin Design
Benefit: Optimized sidewall design for enhanced run-flat performance without sacrificing ride comfort.
Feature: Reinforced Sidewall
Benefit: Support the weight of the vehicle and passenger even with a loss of air pressure with thicker sidewall, generally designed for RFT tires, made of special heat-resistant rubber

Specifications

Speed Rating

Q
99
mph
R
106
mph
S
112
mph
T
118
mph
U
124
mph
H
130
mph
V
149
mph
Z
149+
mph
W
168
mph
Y
186
mph
(Y)
186+
mph

Detailed Tire Specifications
Available Sizes	Speed Rating	Load Index	Technology	Mileage
195/55R16	W	87	UNI-T	40000
205/55R16	H	91	UNI-T & RUN	40000
205/45R17	W	84	UNI-T & RUN	40000
225/45R17	W	91	UNI-T & RUN	40000
255/40R17	W	94	UNI-T & RUN	40000
225/40R18	W	88	UNI-T & RUN	40000
245/40R18	W	93	UNI-T & RUN	40000
255/35R18	W	90	UNI-T & RUN	40000
285/35R19	W	99	UNI-T & RUN	40000

Safety Warning:
Serious injury may result from tire failure due to underinflation/overloading. Follow owner’s manual and tire placard in vehicle.

Tire Technology

What’s this?

Other Tire Technology

Tire Technology Uni-Directional Pattern is a tread pattern design that maximizes both wet and dry performance, as well as other tire characteristics. By specifying that the tread pattern is to be mounted on the vehicle in a single direction only, the many design compromises found in conventional tires which can be mounted in two directions are eliminated. This provides the ability to include a wider variety of specific performance characteristics such as high resistance to hydroplaning in each tire.

Tire Technology Dual-Layer Tread was developed to ensure that tires maintain wet performance as they wear. Tires with Dual-Layer Tread have two kinds of rubber in the tread, both containing EPC. As the tire wears, a higher grip layer is exposed. This minimizes the effect of wear on worn wet tire performance and helps maintain more consistent handling. It also helps prevent the increase in noise that tends to occur as the tread wears.

Tire Technology Spiral Wrap Shoulder Strips are continuous nylon wraps used to reinforce the tire. Placed between the steel belts and the tread, it encircles the entire tire. Unlike the conventional wraps and layers, Spiral Wrap does not have a seam, so the tire is reinforced without having an added stress point which could alter tire shape and have a negative effect on tire performance.

What’s this?

Uniform Tire Quality Grading

UTQG is intended to provide simple, comparative data for your use in making an informed buying decision. However, the ratings are based upon test results achieved under very specific conditions. As a result, misinterpreting the comparative data as it relates specifically to your particular driving habits, conditions, etc., is a possibility. UTQG designates the comparative performance levels of a tire based upon government-specified tests. Tire manufacturers and brand name owners are required to grade regular and all-season tires in three categories: Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature.

DOT QUALITY GRADES

All passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.

TREADWEAR

The treadwear grade is a comparative grade assigned by the manufacturer based on the wear rate of a tire when tested under controlled conditions on a course that meets government-specified requirements. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1 1/2) times as well as a tire graded 100 under the controlled test conditions. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics.

TRACTION AA, A, B, C

The traction grade is based on wet skid tests of a tire on government-specified concrete and asphalt surfaces. The traction grade is based on a straight-ahead wet braking traction test and does not include a cornering traction test. The comparative tire grade letters, AA, A, B, and C (AA being the highest and C being the lowest) represent the tire's ability to stop the vehicle on wet pavement under the controlled test conditions. Ice and snow traction capabilities are not tested.

WARNING:

The traction grade assigned is based on braking (straight ahead) traction test and does not include cornering (turning) traction.

TEMPERATURE A, B, C

The temperature grade is based on an indoor, high-speed test that meets government-specified requirements. The comparative grade letters, A, B, and C (A being the highest and C being the lowest) represent the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.

Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades A and B represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.

WARNING:

The temperature grade is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, under inflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

EXAMPLE #1:

A tire with the ratings of TREADWEAR 80, TRACTION B, TEMPERATURE C, is interpreted by the manufacturer as having:

TREADWEAR grade less than that of a tire graded 100.
TRACTION capability greater than tires of C grade, but not as good as tires of AA or A grade.
TEMPERATURE performance on the laboratory high-speed test greater than required by the government standards, but less than tires graded B or A.

EXAMPLE #2:

A tire with same brand name and same construction type with ratings of TREADWEAR 160, TRACTION A, TEMPERATURE B, compares to the tire in example #1 as follows:

TREADWEAR is graded two times better than the tire in example #1.
Wet TRACTION and TEMPERATURE are better than the tire in example #1.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Keep in mind that comparing the performance of various tires is too complex to be based exclusively on UTQG grades.

UTQG grades are not government grades. They are manufacturer grades that are not based on head-to-head interbrand testing. Test data is not typically submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Treadwear grades are not a guarantee for a given mileage warranty, or an indicator of overall tire quality. Treadwear grades are assigned by the manufacturer for comparison purposes within the same brand names and construction types only.
UTQG grades are not safety ratings. Overall tire quality and safety are not graded. Tire selection based on any one, two, or even three UTQG ratings may not satisfy your needs.
One brand name of tires cannot be considered superior or inferior to another brand name of tires based solely on UTQG grades.
UTQG grades are not required for snow tires, light truck tires and maximum traction tires.
UTQG is used but not required in Canada.

Treadwear: 400
Traction: AA/A
Temperature: A